Latching device



June 7, 1927. 1,631,758

M. RAsMussEN LATCHING DEVICE Filed Deq. 29. 1924 INVENTOR.

'ATTORNEYS Patented June 7, 1927;

UNITED SrATEs PATENT orrlcE.l

MARTIN RASMUSSEN, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, 'ASSIGNOR TO HARTMANN TRUNK .COMPANYQ OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

LATCHING- DEVICE.

Application filed December 29, 1924. Serial No. 758,650.

This invention relates to wardrobe trunks and fastening devices therefor and has for one of its objects to provide means for securing the lower portions of two trunk sections together when the top cover of the wardrobe section of the trunk is swung to closed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which will be simple in construction, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and more efficient in use than those which have been heretofore proposed.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel details of constructions and combinations and arrangements of parts more fully hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.A

Referring to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification in which like numerals designate like parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a wardrobe trunk with the fastening device constructed in accordance withthe present invention, applied thereto. y

Figure 2 is a similar view at right angles to Figure 1 and Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken approximately on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

In the said drawings, the numeral 5 indicates the drawer section of a wardrobe trunk which is here shown diagrammatically, and the numeral 6 the wardrobe section thereof which latter section is provided with tho separate cover section 7 which is hinged as at 8 to the drawer section 5. The said cover section 7 carries a suitable trunk lock 9 which is here shown as of the well known hasp type having a key controlled locking device 10 adapted to be received in and engage the escutcheon platev 11 carried by the wardrobe section 6.

The drawer and wardrobe sections are provided adjacent their lower portions with a fastening device 12 which may be of any suitable construction, it being preferred however to employ a device. which will clampingly draw the two sections together as it is moved to locking position, vone form of such device being shown in my co-pending application, filed July'7, 1923, Serial No. 650,188, entitled Trunk locks.7 This said fastening device is provided with a suitable actuating lever 13 which carries at one end al pin 14 moving in an arcuate slot'15 formed in the lock housing and the said pin forms a pivotal connection between the said lever 13 and one end of a link 16, the other end of which is pivotally connected as at 17 to a second link 18, the upper end of which is pivotally connected as at 19 to a lever 20 pivoted as at 21 to the wall of the wardrobe section 6. As will be clear from Figure 1, the lever 20 in the normal or locked position of the parts, occupies a substantially horizontal position parallel to and immediately below the top cover member 7. It is swung manually from this position to a substantially vertical position as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1', to open the fastening device 12 as will be readily understood.y The link member 16 is preferably provided with a screw section 22 whereby its length may be adjust-ed and the relative positions with the other parts changed to suit varying conditions.

The inner surfaces of the walls of the trunk sections are customarily lined with fabric, or votherwise decorated and in order to prevent injury to this surface, through contact between the under-surface of the cover section 7 with the lever 20, in the event that an attempt is made to close the cover member before the lever 20 has been manually moved to its horizontal position, I provide upon the underside of the saidl cover member, a suitable deflector member 23 which is adapted to engage the lever 20 and prevent its contact with the surface of the cover member 7. This deiiecting member also serves to retain the lever 20 in its horizontal position and to thereby prevent the unintentional .opening of the fastening device 12, during the handling of the trunk when closed.

While one form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction as well as the arrangements of parts, without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore it is not wished to be liinited to the above disclosure except as may be required by the claim.

I-Iavin'gy thus described my invention what 5 I desire to claim as new is:

An actuating' device for Wardrobe trunk fasteners comprising a lever adapted to be pivoted Within'the Wardrobek section of the trunk, said lever being provided With a por-l tion adapted to be engaged by the top seclo adapted to be connected to the fastener. 15

In testimony whereof, I afixvrny signa* ture.

MARTIN RASMSSEN. 

